Toy



F. WEINBERG TGY Filed April 14 1922 Fred Weinberg Patented Oct. 27, 1925.

PATENT. OFFICE.

FRED WEINBERG, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK.

TOY.

Application flied April 14, 1922. Serial No. `552,606.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, Furio IVEINBERG, a citizen ot th-e United States, residing at Schenectady, New York, in the county ot Schenectady, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toys, of which the following is a specitication.

The present invention relates to toys ot the wheel type intended to be rolled over a floor as by being pushed or pulled by a handle and has for its object to provide an improved toy of this type which is attractive and entertaining to children, can be manufactured at a low cost, and is of a strong, rugged character so as not to be easily broken.

For a consideration ot what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed tothe accompanying description and the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing wherein I have illustrated an embodiment ot my invention, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a complete toy; Fig. Q is a side view of the toy with one side plate or side piece removed, and Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section.

Referring to the drawing, the toy coniprises two round side plates or side pieces 5 and 6 fastened together at their centers by a pin or spindle 7 to torni a wheel adapted to be rolled over a flat surface such as av direction, gradually moving within the coniines of the wheel and shortly after its pivot ti-oor. The side. pieces may be made troni sheet metal, wood or other suitable material and are shaped so that when fastened together they resemble a wheel. They are preferably made solid and are provided with embossed surfaces or colorations as indicated at 8 in Fig. 1 to represent spokes of a wheel. It will be understood that various contours and colors may be used to give the desired pleasing' appearance to the exterior of `the wheel.

The side plates 5 and 6 aie spaced apart topiovide a chamber 9 and at the periphery are inwardly curved flanges 10 and 11 which are spaced slightly apart so as to leave an annular slot 12 which communicates with chamber 9. The side plates may be main tained in spaced relation to each other by suitable spacing means suoli as the hub members and washers indicated at 13 and 14 and they may be held by nuts 15 screwed onto the ends of spindle 7.

Pivotally mounted between side plates 5 and (3 are one or more figures 1.6, three being shown in the present instance. These iigures may take various forms, horses bearing riders being shown by way oit example,`

the lower ends of the ligures comprising triangular plates 17. made from suitable material such as thin metal and are weighted or counterbalanced attlieir lower ends by weights 18 so they tend to stand in an upright position. Then iii an upright position at the top of the wheel the upperends'of the figures project through the confines of the wheel while they are passing beneath the center' of the wheel. Referring particularly to Fig. 2, the top ligure 16 is standing vertical with its upper portion projecting beyond the periphery of the wheel. clockwise direction, as this top figure moves beyond the vertical' axis o'f the wheel it will swing on its pivot 19 in an anti-clockwise pin passes belowy the horizontal axis the figure will have moved entirely within the chamber 9. The right hand Figure 16 in Fig-.2 is in a position where it is almost enf tirely in chamber 9. Then entirely in chainber 9, the weight 18 at the bottoni of the figure strikes flanges l0 and 11 and so holds the figure from turning further. As the wheel continues to turn the figure 'remains stationary as it rides beneath the axis of the wheel and up the rear side, occupying a position as shown by the lett hand figure in Fig. 2. It remains in this position until the wheel in turning brings the center lino through pivot, 19 and counterweight 18 beyond the vertical when the couiiterweight will swing the figure iii a clockwise direction to quickly project the upper end of it through slot 12. The igure thus appears to jump from between the side plates. It will thus be seen that as the wheel rolls along rIhe figures may be It now the wheel is turned in a` or turns on its axis each figure will successively disappear on the 'toi-ward side the wheel and reappear on the rear side, riding in full View While at the top of the Wheel. The figures are so proportioned and arranged that they never overlap so they cannot interfere With each other and since they are Within the confines of the Wheel when passing beneath the axis of the Wheel they cannot at that time be injured by contact with the surface on which the Wheel is being rolled.

I have described the operation of the figures with the Wheel rolling or turning in a clockwise direction. The figures Will appear and disappear in the same manner, however, when. the Wheel is turned in the opposite direction.` In other Words, the Wheel may be turned either Way with exactly the. same results. This feature of my structure is one of particular utility since;- no` attention need be paid to theV direction of rotation and no injury can result from 4turning the Wheel either Way. 'Ihat the device is adapted to operate when turned in. either direction results from the fact that the figures 16 are so pivoted that When turned in either direction from a vertical position as shown at the top of Fig. 2, they can move inside the confines of the Wheel and are then prevented from further movement by flanges l and 1l which form in substance stops for limiting the turning of the figures. This arrangement also provides for the quick projection of the figures from between the side plates and enables me to use comparatively large figures for a given- Wheel diameter.

The toy may be propelled by a handle 2O having forked arms 21 provided with inturned ends Which enter sockets 22 in the ends of pin 7, or by any other suitable means.

It Will of course be understood that the wheel may be made of various diameters and that the figures may be vof any desired character and counterbalanced in anydesired manner. Thefigures may be as elaborate asv desired and of any suitable color or colors.

`The structure comprises few parts of a shape easily manufactured in quantities-and the assemblying is simple and can be done by relatively unskilled help. This mea-ns that the toy can be manufactured at a low cost.

In accordance With the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention together with the apparatus Which I now consider to rejncesentthel best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood, that the apparatus shoivn is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

That I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. In a toy, the combination of spaced side plates adapted to be rotated, a counterbalanced figure lof lesser dimensions than the side plates pivoted in the space between them to one side of they center of the plates, the pivot for the figure being eccentric of the ligure and sufficiently close to the periphery of the plates that in one position the figure projects partly beyond the periphery of the plates, and stop means which prevents said iigure from turning on its pivot beyond a predetermined amount.

2. In a toy, a Wheel member, a counterbalanced figure pivoted on a side Wall of the Wheel member, the pivot for the figure being eccentric of the figure and suiiicientlyV close to the periphery of the Wheel member that in one position the ligure projects at least partly beyond the periphery of the wheel' member and thatwhen turned on its pivotthrough an angle of less than 180 degrecs in either direction it moves entirely Within the confines of the Wheel member, and stop means Which limits the turning movement of the .figure in both directions.

3. In a toy, a Wheel having an annular chamber between its sides and' a slot in its periphery which communicates- With the chamber, a plurality of figures pivoted Within the kchambers, the pivots for the figures being eccentric of the figures and sufficiently close to the periphery of the Wheel that when turned on their pivots they are projected through said slot, means connected to said figures for turning them on their pivots, and stop means Which limits the turning movements of said figures.

4. In a toy, a Wheel member, a counterbalanced figure'pivoted on a side Wall of the Wheel member and so located that When vertical it projects beyond the periphery of the Wheel member and when turned on its pivot-:through an angle of less than 180 degrees in either direction it moves entirely within the confines of the Wheel member, a fiange on the Wheel member, and a part on saidfigure which engages said flange to limit the turning movement of the figure in both directions.

5. In combination, a pair of complementary, fianged plates, means fastening themV together at their centers in spaced relation to' each other so as to leave slot between the flanges, and one or more figures pivoted between said plates, said pivots being eccentric of the figures and spaced sufficiently close to the periphery of the plates that When the plates are turned the figures Will be projected through said slot when approaching a point overthe axis ot the plates, said figures having parts which engage said flanges to limit the turning movements of the figures on their pivots.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this flth day of April, 1922.

" FRED VEINBERG. 

